I need to take a few day break from the Mount Takao blog series, as I felt it important to write a blog about one of the people who made a major impact in my life as a writer. A person who’s photography would reach Read More …
Q&A with Kenichi Sonoda (by Michelle Tymon, Dennis A. Amith and Photos by Rhiannan Smith) When it comes to world renown artists and animators, one man who received international attention before anime would become part of international pop culture was Kenichi Sonoda. Working for the Read More …
It’s Sunday and that means it’s time for “Classic Hollywood Photos”. When I was 19-years-old, I purchased and acquired hundreds of classic Hollywood photos from a retailer who wanted to pass his photo collection before he passed. For several decades, friends and classic cinema fans Read More …
“Melodies” is a classic album from Yamashita Tatsuro that still is on my playlist to this day! ARTIST: Yamashita Tatsuro (山下達郎) TITLE: Melodies LABEL: Alpha Moon Inc./Moon Records CATALOG #: 32XM-27 DURATION: 41 Minutes RELEASE DATE: June 8, 1983 1. 悲しみのJODY (She Was Crying) 2. Read More …
When I was 19-years-old, I purchased and acquired hundreds of classic Hollywood photos from a retailer who wanted to pass his photo collection before he passed. For several decades, friends and classic cinema fans have asked me to share my collection and I decided for Read More …
For those visiting the Sunshine City shopping center in Ikebukuro may come upon this large artwork titled “The One about the Four Seasons of Edo” by Kataoka Tamako (1905-2008). The ceramic artwork was created back in 1978 for the opening of Sunshine City and was Read More …
One of my favorite sculptures at the Matsuoka Museum of Art in Meguro is “Minerva”. The statue is made of gilt marble and created back in the Hellenestic period (ca. 100 B.C.) and was excavated from the suburbs of Rome. Minerva was the Roman goddess Read More …
When it comes to dive masks, Cressi made in Italy, are one of the best makers of dive masks. The Cressi Matrix dive mask features twin tear-drop tempered glass lenses that go downward closer to the eyes and allows for downward visibility, a double-edged silicone Read More …
UPDATED”: [NHK] A magnitude 6.1 earthquake has struck the Osaka region in western Japan. Three people are confirmed dead. More than 230 others are reportedly injured. The Shinkansen line that runs from Tokyo to Osaka has resumed operation after service was partially suspended. But local Read More …
For those who have read my scuba dive mask and snorkel reviews, know I am very big on Cressi products. And when it comes to dive masks, Cressi, which is made in Italy, are one of the best makers of dive masks and snorkeling gear. Read More …
For those who have read my scuba dive mask and snorkel reviews, know I am very big on Cressi products. And when it comes to dive masks, Cressi, which is made in Italy, are one of the best makers of dive masks and snorkeling gear. Read More …
Rikako Akiyoshi is an author who debuted with her novel “Snow Flower” back in 2009. A winner of the third Yahoo! JAPAN Literature Award back in 2008 (out of the 1,675 works that were entered in the competition), “Snow Flower” would be made into a Read More …
A collapsible hydration flask. The soft flask has a high-flow self-sealing bit valve, a 42mm opening with twist locking cap, flexible hand strap and the flask shrinks as you drink, reducing water movement. Great for the minimalist runner but while the hand strap was nice, Read More …
I’ve reviewed numerous snorkeling gear and also semi-dry snorkels. And this time I’m checking out the Cressi Tao Semi-Dry Snorkel. This is a side snorkel that attaches to your mask, not a center snorkel. The reason why this is called a semi dry is Read More …
I was able to test out the Phantom Aquatics semi dry snorkel this weekend and before I go on to the review, if you don’t have the goggles, you can purchase the Phantom Aquatics Panoramic Scuba Snorkeling Dive Mask here. You can purchase a goggle and Read More …
VOFAN is perhaps one of the most popular artists from Taiwan that has created many wonderful illustrations that have attracted fans of his work worldwide. Best known as the illustrator for the popular “Monogatari” light novels and his use of color and depiction of natural Read More …
I have numerous bags in my home. One to hold my bodyboard and fins, another my surfboard and another for my skimboards. But I have been looking for a bag that can hold on to numerous fins and my wetsuit and one that can hold Read More …